Cooling system for beverage storage and dispensing installations



y 4, 1954 E. s. WRIGHT 7 COOLING SYSTEM FOR BEVERAGE STORAGE AND DISPENSING INSTALLATIONS Filed Aug. 2, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l 0 O 0 O O O O O O O O O O 0 O O OOOOOOQO INVENTOR ELDON 5. WRiGHT ATTORNEY May 4, 1954 E. s. WRIGHT COOLING SYSTEM FOR BEVERAGE STORAGE AND DISPENSING INSTALLATIONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 2, 1951 7 1 1 Z 1 1 I 1 1 1 11 1 1 ,1 11 11 1/ 11 1 1. 7C7/7/7 r 1 1 1/ 1/ 11/1 7: 11/1y 1 .1 11 11 1/ I 7 0. o 1 i 1 11 11 1 11 1 11 1. 1 /1 1 1 1 1 7 1 7 71711 11 11/11 11 11 11 1/ l\ 1 I 1 1 I! i 1 Ill I l I /I l 1 1 I 1 1 I 1 I r 1 I 1 I I 1 1 1 J I 1, 1 1 l 1/ 1 I 1 I 1 nlll HH "M r 3 INVENTOR ELDON s. WRIGHT BY W W ATTORNEY Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED "sures oooLING SYSTEM Fort BEVERAGELIISTOR- AGE 1AND 'DISPENSING"'INSTALLATIGNS Eia ns; Wright, Youngstown; Ohio Application August 2, 1951, Serial Nod-39,864

. pensing beer as will become apparent.

A generally preferred method of cooling and dispensing beer and similar beverages comprises placing the beverage container or containers in an insulated storage room located remotely of the dispensing panel, usuallyin the basement of the establishment. Dispensing lines connect thefcon- "ft'ainersythiisi remotely placed, with the bar or 'other outlet point; conventionalpressure 'means being utilized to urge the beverage'to the outlet. To'insurethat the beverage is at all'times maintained at a low temperature, refrigerating means are commonly provided to cool the insulated storage room and to'cool "thebeverage as it flows from'such storage room to the outlet; the

said means usually including an'insulated conduit which encloses one or more beverage lines and through which chilled water is circulated to "cool the beverage over thetraverse'from the "storage room-to the outlet.

" the esignand' manufa'cture of-apparat -and-equipn1ent for refrigeratingbeverages inthe mariner above described there has been a defi'ni'te trendtoward the package unit containing'most 'or'many of the essential elements'of'jthe cooling system. Such a unit should bequ'ickly mountable within the storage room and. should providemeans for cooling both the storage room and the beverage as it flows to the outlet. 1 It'will be apparent that sucha unit would bedesiredby the'tavern owner or operator since it "may beinstalled with a minimum interruption of serviceand often a minimum outlay of capital. *Fur- 'thermoresuch 4 apparatus may be easily' dismantled and removed in the event that it becomes necessary to moveto a new location.

"This invention, therefore, has, as its overall object, the provision of beverage cooling apparatus of the above described or package unit type wherein certain novel features of design and 'constructionare incorporated whereby various economies are realized in the manufacture of the apparatus and whereby'improved operating characteristics are obtained, particularly as relates to thepre-cooling of the beverage in the insu- "lated storage room.

*More specifically 'it' isaaan object of thisxinvenchambersforeach-the-storage room and the-cirtion I to provide 2 a t. unitary v cooling --a'pp'aratus wherein but a single evaporati ve chamber is' used in cooling the air of the storage room and chilling the waterto 'fb'e circulated 'about the beverage "dispensing lines,- and wherein; by a novel":ar-

rangement of th -single. 'evaporative' chamber: it

sis-possible to jcoolthestorage room to temperatures lower than has heretofore benpossible'with apparatus of this type: withoutresorting .tothe use of independently controllable evaporative culat-ing-Water.

- Yet another-object of the-invention is theprovision of apparatus as; above desc-ribed wherein-is advantageously utilized 3 a-common commercial instantaneous type -heat,. exchanger which serves as a portion of the evaporative chamber and as acoolin qdev-ice forthe water to-be circula-ted about thebeverage dispensing lines. As

willbecome apparentupon consideration of the following specification .my novel utilization of the commercial heat exchange unit provides; an

economical construction by improving and simplifying the general arrangement of the appa- Another objectiof the invention is theprovisionpf a packageunit .cooling device which 'f'inay' be mounted up'onj 'andj removed from the .wall of a storage room with aimaximum of ease and with a minimum "of damage to the insulated won.

Other objects and advantages of my'inven'ti'on *"w'm become parentubon full consideration bf 'thefollowihg' detailed specification anuao'oompanying drawing wherein is' "disclosed, a certain preferred embodiment of the invention.

* In the drawing:

Figure 1"i s" an axial sectionof a package unit beverage cooling device constructed" in accord- 40 ance with the principles of "my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken "Figure*3- is 'a' side elevation,- par'tly in section ofatypical beer dispensing "installationwherein "the apparatusof'Figure 1 i 'utilized; and

Figure 4 'is'-'-a1r-axial *section" taken along line IV--IV of Figure 3- showinga conduit wherein" a "plurality of"b'everage'-- dispensing lines are enclosed.

Referring-to the drawing and in" particular-to Figure 1-the cooling deviceofmy invention comprises a---cylindrical"casii1g -10 which serves-to P enclose the variouso'ther elements-of the'deviee "and which, [a as *will i be apparent, additionally :servesto confine and guide-tile afio'w oi air being 3 cooled therein. Suspended within the casing [U in spaced coaxial relation thereto is a cylindrical heat exchanger block ll. In the proposed embodiment the heat exchanger block H is a product of manufacture common to the refrigerating art comprising a hollow cylinder [3 of cast aluminum or equivalent heat conductive material. Cast within the aluminum cylinder, in heat exchange relation therewith, are a plurality of coils (numbering two in instant example) one (It) of which is adapted to contain a refrigerant and to serve as an evaporative chamber for a conventional refrigerating device i2 (Figure 3), and the other (I5) of which is adapted to carry a cooling medium as, for example, water which in turn cools the beverage to b dispensed as will become apparent. Any suitable means, such as braces It, may be utilized to suspend the block I l in the desired coaxial relation to the casing H]; the principal requirement being that suificient unobstructed area be provided to allow the passage of air through the annular space between the block H and easing I0.

Positioned generally within the confines of the above mentioned annular space is a heat exchange coil i7 comprising a plurality of convolutions of heat conductive tubing l8 having fins l9 or equivalent appendages for increasing the exposed surface area. The coil 11 is connected in series relation to the coil M of the heat exchange block H and as will become apparent serves in cooperation therewith as the evaporative chamber for the refrigerating device [2. According to the principles of the invention the flow of refrigerant through my apparatus is from the refrigerating device l2 by way of conduit into a conventional expansion valve 2|. From the expansion valve 2| the refrigerant circulates first through the convolutions of the coil 17 and then through the coil M of the heat exchange block I I; the connection between the coils l4 and I1 being provided by a short conduit 22. After passing through the heat exchange block the refrigerant flows out through the conduit 23 and is returned to the refrigerating device [2 to be compressed in the usual manner.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the casing I6 is secured to a flat plate 24 by any suitable means, not shown. The entire unit may then be secured to the insulated wall 25 of a storage room 26 by means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced bolts 21 and/ or suitable brackets 28 secured to and depending downwardly from the ceiling 29 of the room.

As shown in Figure 1 the outer or left hand end of the casing i0 is open. Positioned near the said open end and suspended substantially in coaxial relation to the casing I0 is a small motor 30 mounting a fan blade 3| upon its outwardly extending shaft. Near the inner end of the casing I have provided a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures 32 to permit relatively unobstructed ingress of air into the casing. As will be observed the arrangement is such that suitable rotation of the fan blade 3| will cause air within the room 26 to flow into the casing 10 through the apertures 32, through the annular space between the block H and casing, and thence out into the room. The arrangement of the coil l! is such as to define a tortuous path through which the air must pass as it flows through the annular space. Heat is of course extracted from the air as it flows through the coil IT and thus the room 26 may be maintained at a relatively low temperature. As will become more fully apparent upon consideration of the remainder of the specification, an extremely important feature of my invention resides in the fact that the room 25 and thus the beverage contained therein may be maintained at serving temperature. Thus there is little or no need for additional cooling of the beverage between the insulated room 25 and the distribution outlet; it being necessary to merely extract the heat absorbed from the surrounding air.

For such additional cooling as may be necessar to extract the heat absorbed externally as the beverage flows to the distribution outlet and/or to reduce slightly the temperature of the beverage passing out of the room, I suggest an enclosed system connecting the room and the outlet through which the beverage line or lines are passed and through which is circulated water or other medium of heat transfer at a predetermined temperature.

Included in the above mentioned system is an insulated fluid-tight box 34 mounted upon a suitable stand 35 which may be located to best suit the requirements of the establishment. Mounted on one side wall of the box 34 are one or more dispensing faucets 36. Communicating with the opposite wall of the box 34 is a duct 31 comprising a large diameter conduit 38 covered with suitable insulating material 39. In the arrangement shown the duct 37 extends downwardly from the box 3 through the floor 40 and terminates at the wall 25 of the room 26.

Secured to the inner end portion of the heat exchange block I i by means of a threaded collar M is a short length of conduit 42 which is adapted to extend through an aperture provided therefor in the wall 25 and to be connected to the conduit 38 in fluid-tight relation. As shown in Figure l the conduit 42 communicates directly with the axial cavity 43 of the heat exchange block H and the same thus becomes an element of the enclosed circuit communicating with the box 34 at the dispensing outlet.

Secured to the outer end of the block H in communication with the cavity 43 is a connecting head 44 which extends downwardly from the cavity and terminates externally of the casing H3. An end cap 45 is secured to the upper end portion of the connecting head and operates to substantially close off the cavity 43. A plurality of tubes at are secured at their lower ends to the end portion of the head 44 and at their upper ends to the end cap 45; circumferentially spaced bores being provided in the latter member to receive the tubes in fluid-tight relation. Thus it will be apparent that there is communication between the cavity 43 and the lower end of the connecting head 44 only through the tubes 45.

Beverage lines 47, terminating at the faucets 36, are enclosed within the conduit 38 and pass through the cavity 43. As shown in Figure l the tubes 46 are of such size in relation to the lines 4'! that the latter may be passed through the former. In the embodiment shown the lower termini of the lines 41 are at the lower end of the connection head 44 and suitable connection fittings 58 are provided at this point whereby the lines 41 may be connected to tap lines 48 extending from beverage containers 49 located within the insulated room. When installing the apparatus of my invention the lines 41, which are preferably of flexible vinyl tubing are inserted spirate barrels directly to the faucet. "Suitable means. such as a wrapping of friction tape,'not' shown,

In the illustrated system water or other cooling medium may be poured into the system through a removable cap. in the top of'the'box 34. To circulate the water aboutthe' beverage lines' 4'! I have provided a pumpliZ which "is mounted within the casing l0. A conduit'53 is connected to the intake of the pump and extends through the duct 3! terminating within the box 34 near the upper portion thereof as shown in Figure 3. The outlet of the pump52 is connected through conduit 55 to the coil i5 of the heat exchange block Ii. The other end of the coil i5 is connected through conduit '55 directly into the large conduit 42. Thus it may be understood that operation of the pump 52 in the/direc- 'tionindicated in Figure 1 will draw the higher temperature water from the uppermost part of the water circuit through the conduit 53 and cause it to circulate through the heat exchange block H Where it is cooled to a predetermined temperature. The Water then enters directly into the duct 3? to the box 3 The beverage lines 4? are thus at all points between the cooled storage room and the dispensing outlet totally immersed in chilled water and the desired tempera ture is always maintained.

- It is important to note the particular arrangement of-the refrigerant coils l4- and I! as taught by my invention. By providing the two series connected coils in the mannerdescribed and by circulating the refrigerant first through the air cooling coil H and then through thewater cooling coil iii-lower storage room temperatures may be obtained than has heretofore been possible with but a single evaporative chamber. a In actual practice, the assembly may be made to operate at maximum eniciency by utilizing a remotely controlled expansion valve for the valve 21 in which the control bu1b,1not showmismade responsive to the temperature of the refrigerant coil I! at or adjacent to its point of entry into the casting i I. The expansion valve 2| Will then operate to control the quantity of refrigerant supplied to the coil H in such manner that the portion of the coil H which is exposed to the air is maintained quite'cold and frosted whilethe temperature within the casting I l is maintained safely above the freezing temperature of water. I therefore provide a system which is not only simple in design and highly compact in construction but highly efficient and of largecapacity for cooling the air in the storage room-and forcool-- ing the beverage lines-in the duct leading tothe faucets.

In apparatus of this character the temperature of the cooling medium which circulates about the beverage lines must be carefully controlled since under most conditions the beverage served will assume that temperature. In" prior apparatus, wherein it has'been common practiceftd'c'ool a large supply of water'to be used-as a cooling me-1 6 in heat- 'ex'char'ige relation 'to' the watersupply. it has-beerr extremely impractical to coolthe storage room to as low a temperature =as isde'sired. Since the=proper serving temperature of the-bev- 5 erage 'is generally' about 40'--F. the circulating water must-be maintained ata' temperature not *more than-a'few degrees-below this value. The -air which ispassed inheat exchange relation withthe' water will be cooled-t0 a temperature -Which is-several degreesabove-that ofthe water "-and*-which--is' thus many degrees above the desired temperature; it being understood that several degrees temperature differential will exist betwe'eri-"the circulating air and the cooling -means therefor and between the air-and the beverage "cooled' th'ereby. Thus in prior apparatus'the bev- --erage has been merely partially cooled in the storage -room and- -has been cooledto the" final serving temperature by means of the circulating water. While this is satisfactory in some-in- "stances a-large reserve supply of chilled water-is nece's'sary'to provide adequate cooling of the-bev- "e'rage'during periods of high demand. This, of "course-increases the size of theapparatus and tends to defeat the'principal'object'of the package unit cooler.

"By' providing the air cooling coil I Tin the manner taughtby my invention-it is possible to "sub- 'stantiallyeliminate the above described objectionable feature of prior apparatus. It *will be understood-that -the refrigerantpassing through "the'coils' and Min the order'statedywill' as- 'sumea' temperature gradient which is 'in part a function of the physical characteristics of the coils; i. e., the-length, surface area; -conductivity, "etc. Thus'by properly proportioning'thecoils' "'14 andl'lit'is possible to'maintain'thecoil I! atfa 'very low temperature" while" at the same time I "maintaining the'coil M at'a' considerablyhi'gher temperature *in' order to properly cool the circulatingwater. By this 'arrangementit'is' possible "tdpre-co'ol the stored beverage to approximatelythe' desired serving temperature (40 F.) "Ihus the serving demand will in no way affect the op- 4 5- 'era'ting" "of "my" apparatus. The entire supply of beverage is sufliciently pre -cooled' and thus "re- "quires little or no final coolingbefore'dispensingj'the' circulatingw'ater being used principally to extract any heat which is absorbed over the length of the duct 31. It will be understood that theJabso'rbed heat'remains constant regardless of the demand and no reserve supply of water 'is "required as in prior apparatus. The cooling effect. of the-circulating Water actually. diminishes in importance as the serving demand increases.

apparatus of my invention is further ad- -vantageousin respect to its physical characteristics of bulk and weight. As explained above it is possible, even desirable, bymy teachings .to

"- reduce the water coolingportionof the evaporaftive chambertoa minimum capacity and itwis =also-possible-to reduce the required volume of circulating water -to an absolute minimum.

Therein -lies a large fraction of the bulk- -and Weight -of prior apparatus of this type, It

" should thus -be apparent that my apparatus is -ideally suitedas a fpackage unit. Less bulk and weightpermits of simpler mounting of-the 'apparatus'and eliminates or materially reduces the need for special bracing.

-Substantial economies are realized in the pro- =ductionof my apparatus through the novel use *of a "standard commercial heat exchange "block 7 H for -f co'oling' the circulating water. a In addition ""dium and to circulate the air "of the'storage'room td: havinghighly flicient' heat*transfer characteristics these commercial units have certain physical features which simplify the construction of the entire unit.

It will be noted that, with the exception of the small holes necessarily provided for the bolts 21 or other fastening means, the mounting of my apparatus requires the cutting of but a single small hole in the insulated storage room wall. This not only simplifies the mounting operation but provides that a minimum of damage is done to the wall; a factor which becomes important should it become desirable or necessary to remove the apparatus from the premises.

Another important advantage of the apparatus of my invention is that it may be mounted in any position in the storage room without loss of efficiency. For example, in some establishments it may be advantageous to depend the apparatus vertically from the ceiling of the storage room in which case air from the refrigerant coil can be blown directly down onto the beverage barrels sitting on the floor of the storage chamber.

Many changes may be made in the physical structure of the assembly herein specifically described without departmg from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, by replacing the pump 52 with an air moving device and by making suitable alterations in the structure of the heat exchanger the apparatus may be arranged to utilize air as the coolant in the duct 37 and box 34 rather than water or other liquid as herein shown.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of my invention what I claim is novel and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In beverage cooling apparatus for use in beverage storage and dispensing systems having an insulated storage room located remotely of a beverage dispensing outlet, fluid-tight insulated duct means communicating with said dispensing outlet and said storage room, means for circulating a cooling liquid in said duct, and beverage lines communicating with said outlet and said room through said duct; the combination of a casing adapted to be mounted within said room; a heat exchange block mounted within said casing in spaced relation to the side walls thereof, said heat exchange block comprising a body of heat conductive material having therein in heat exchange relation a refrigerant coil and a cooling liquid coil, and said body having a cavity therein, one end of said cavity being closed; a second refrigerant coil positioned in the space between said heat exchange block and said casing and defining a tortuous path for air flowing axially through said space, said refrigerant coils being connected in series relation; a fan mounted within said casing adapted to cause air to flow over said second refrigerant coil; conduit means communicating with the cavity in said heat exchange block adapted to be connected to said duct means communicating with said outlet and said storage room; said beverage lines being partially housed within said conduit means and said cavity and passing out of said cavity at the closed end thereof; said duct means, said conduit means and said cavity being adapted to retain a liquid; said means for circulating comprising a pump, a first liquid line connecting the outlet of said pump and one end of said liquid coil, a second liquid line connecting the inlet of said pump and communicating with said duct means near the upper portion thereof, and a third liquid line connecting the other end of said liquid coil and communicating with said duct means near the lower portion thereof; and refrigerant compressing and condensing apparatus communicating with said second and first refrigerant coils adapted to circulate refrigerant therethrough in the direction from said second to said first refrigerant coil.

- 2. For use in a beverage storage and dispensing installation having an insulated storage room, a duct extending from the room to a dispensing faucet through which a beverage conducting conduit extends, and means to circulate a fluid through said duct; a unitary assembly for cooling both the fluid within said duct and the space within said room comprising a heat exchanger having a passage therethrough for said fluid and a second passage therethrough for refrigerant, means to supply refrigerant to said second passage comprising a thinned-tube refrigerating coil exposed to the air within said room, and means to circulate the air in said room over said refrigerating coil, said means to circulate being operative to circulate said fluid through said first mentioned passage and said duct in series.

3. For use in a beverage storage and dispensing installation having an insulated storage room, a duct extending from the room to a dispensing faucet through which a beverage conducting conduit extends, and means to circulate a cooling fluid through said duct; a unitary assembly comprising a cylindrical heat-exchanging block having a pair of spirally disposed and parallel related passages therein, means to supply refrigerant to one of said passages comprising a thinned-tube conduit arranged in a coil surrounding said block, means to supply fluid to the other of said passages comprising said means to circulate, said block having an axial bore therethrough, said duct connected to one end of said bore, and a. manifold mounted on said block at the other axial end of said bore and having a portion extending radially outward beyond the outer periphery of said coil, a cylindrical casing encompassing said coil and having an extended end portion positioned axially outward beyond said manifold, said manifold being adapted to receive beverage supply lines passing through said bore and duct, and a motor driven fan mounted in the said extended end portion of said casing to circulate the air in said room over said coil.

4. For use in the beverage storage and dispensing installation having an insulated storage room and a fluid-retaining duct extending from the room to the dispensing faucet through which a beverage conducting conduit extends; a unitary assembly for cooling both the fluid within said duct and the space within said room comprising a support adapted to be secured to an inner surface of an enclosure wall of said room, a cylindrical casing mounted at one end of such support and projecting into the room therefrom, said casing being opened at its inner end and having inlet apertures in its side wall adjacent said support, duct means extending longitudinally in said casing and adapted at one end to be projected through an opening in said wall for con nection to said duct and at its other end extending radially outward of said casing at a point removed from the open end thereof, air moving means housed in said casing between the said open end thereof and the radially extending portion of said duct means, and heat exchangers disposed concentrically about said duct means but within said casing to cool both the air circulated by said air moving means and the fluid contained within said duct means, said duct means and duct being adapted to house beverage conducting conduit leading to said faucet.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 further characterized in that said heat exchangers comprise a cylindrical heat-conductive block having parallel spiral passages therein for the conduction of refrigerant and said fluid respectively and a finned refrigerant conductive tube wound spirally about the outer periphery of said block and connected at its outlet to the inlet of one of said passages.

6. For use in a beverage storage and dispensing installation having an insulated storage room, a dispensing faucet positioned remotely of said storage room, a beverage conduit communicating in said room with a beverage container and remotely of said room with a faucet, and means to circulate a cooling fluid in heat exchange relation to said conduit; a unitary assembly comprising a cylindrical heat-exchanging block positioned in said room and having a pair of spirally disposed and parallel related passages therein, means to supply refrigerant to one of said passages comprising a refrigerating coil surrounding said block, means to supply fluid to the other of said passages comprising said means to circulate, said last mentioned means including a fluid conduit communicating with said other of said passages and extending substantially to said faucet, said fluid conduit and said beverage conduit being so oriented that said fluid and beverage are in heat exchange relation substantially between said room and said faucet, and means to circulate air in said room over said refrigerating coil.

7. For use in a beverage storage and dispensing installation having an insulated storage room, a dispensing faucet positioned remotely of said storage room, a beverage conduit communicating in said room with a beverage container and remotely of said room with said faucet, and means to circulate a cooling fluid in heat exchange relation to said conduit; a unitary assembly comprising a heat exchange block positioned in said room and having a pair of parallel related passages therein, means to supply refrigerant to one of said passages comprising a refrigerating coil positioned in said room, and blower means to circulate air in said room in heat exchange relation to said refrigerating coil, said means to circulate including means to conduct said fluid in heat exchange relation to said beverage substantially from said room to said faucet.

8. For use in a beverage storage and dispensing installation having an insulated storage room, a dispensing faucet positioned remotely of said storage room, a beverage conduit communicating in said room with a beverage container and remotely of said room with said faucet, and means to circulate a cooling fluid in heat exchange relation to said conduit; a unitary assembly comprising an instantaneous-type heat exchange member positioned Within said room and having means therein for circulating in heat exchange relation a refrigerant and a fluid cooling medium, means to supply refrigerant to said heat exchange member comprising a second heat exchange member exposed to the air in said room, and blower means to circulate the air in said room in heat exchange relation with said second heat exchange member, said means to circulate including means to conduct said fluid cooling medium in heat exchange relation to said beverage substantially from said room to said faucet.

9. For use in a beverage storage and dispensing installation having an insulated storage room, a dispensing station positioned remotely of said storage room, a beverage conduit communicating in said storage room with a beverage container and remotely of said room with said dispensing station, and means to circulate a cooling fluid in heat exchange relation to said conduit; a unitary assembly comprising an instantaneoustype heat exchange member positioned within said room and having means therein for circulating in heat exchange relation a refrigerant and a fluid cooling medium, means to supply refrigerant to said heat exchange member comprising a second heat exchange member ex posed to the air in said room, and blower means to circulate the air in said room in heat exchange relation with said second heat exchange member whereby to cool beverage in said room substantially to serving temperature, said means to circulate including means to conduct said fluid cooling medium substantially to said dispensing station whereby to maintain fluid at said dispensing station at said serving temperature.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,150,233 Martin Mar. 14, 1939 2,231,797 Carson Feb. 11, 1941 2,362,104 Smith Nov. 7, 1944 2,485,610 Kromer Oct. 25, 1949 2,498,524 Booth Feb. 21, 1950 2,526,243 Lange Oct. 17, 1950 

